From now on my observing log will be written straight on the wiki!!! No more downloading a new file every time you want to see what I saw.
ALL OBSERVING NIGHTS PRIOR TO MARCH 6 WILL BE ON MY IP PAGE UNDER OBSERVING LOGS (OBSERVING IS MISSPELLED ...)
All object unless specified otherwise are viewed with my Zhumell 30mm eyepeice.
Tuesday March 6
This is my first written entry so excuse the choppiness of the writing. After packing my scope and Chris’s into my small Neon (a miracle in its self) a headed down to North at about 8. After unpacking and a setting up I headed into the planetarium office where I met up with Mrs. Herrold Richard, and Alison and we talked a bit. Shortly after I went outside and started my observing. My god was it a nice night... Before I even started Chris and I started to collimate my scope and I had trouble finding the “little black dot”. Once I found the little black dot I got back to observing, but I barely got started before the school board members came. Extremely interested I showed one of the members, in a marathon of sorts, the double cluster, M42, M41, Jupiter (though my nag), and Venus. This was the end of my observing night because I soon found out my keys were missing. After an hour of so of digging through everything in sight the janitor, in the second place he look, found them in my trunk, which was searched by 4 other people. After that I tried and failed to locate the Bodes and realizing I had too test in the morning left with my scope in hand.
Saturday March 10
At about 8:30 Richard came over to my house (Allison and Chris postponed) and we started to observe. After looking at M41 and Jupiter Richard and I decided to check out Monteith (spelling is off) to see if we could set up their. After packing the scopes we parked the Neon in the back of the school. We walked out into the middle of the field and it was a bit lack luster. I had the idea to check out Liggett to try and find some “dark” sky. So yet again we got back in the Neon and drove. After we parked the car and walked to the middle of the field I looked up and it blew me away. You could see everything! It was almost a 90 degree from zenith to horizon. It took three long trips and 30 minutes to set up the scope. My observing night didn’t start for 30 more minutes because I was preoccupied by just looking up. My first target was M37. It took me a long time to find it. I got rusty... While trying to find it some random car pulled up and flashed their brights at us, classy. Once they got bored and drove away I went back Auriga. A couple minutes later Al(l)ison arrived. As she ran around the track I finally found M37. I also I checked out M42. Soon after, Chris arrived and I helped him carry his stuff to the center of the field. The cloud then rolled in. They would have ruined my night if it were not for Saturn, which shined in my nagler, and as the orange moon rose higher I put in my moon filter and looked at that too. It was now pushing 12 and I had to bid the cloudy sky goodbye and I packed up my stuff and left.
3/13/12
As clear days are becoming more rare and cloudy ones are becoming pedestrian you have to absorb every photon possible. I went outside about 930 or 10. It was not too hot but not to cold. It was just right. This was the first observing night were I didn't lose all feeling in my hands! I started my journey through the stars with a trip to Jupiter using my nag. It looked better than I have ever seen. Then I soared over to the big dog. First I flew too M41, but I didn't stay long. My goal was to find M 46-47. While scanning the sky for it I had too deal with thousands of texts from my cardboard boat members, oblivious to the fact I was trying to relax with the stars. I eventually found them both. I then turn my attention to the beehive. I never found it thought. Even with a computer and a star chart it evaded me with every turn. While trying to find it I saw a dim dot move across my FOV. I tracked it through many constellations. I found a satlite or a light speed star... that would be cool! Soon after I looked at the time and had to pack up in defeat, but I will be back and with a vengeance.
3/17/12
Today was my best observing night! My friend Scott decided to tag along. He didnt observe much... he was hanging out with Alison the whole time (I didnt know where they were for most of the time). The first thing I checked out was M41 in Canis. Then I went to Auriga and looked at M37. After that I looked at Orion's sword and the double cluster. So far a basic night. Now it was my time to get my vengence on the Beehive cluster. I won!!! I found it, finally. I couple minutes after my triumph Richard arrived. He showed how to find the Bodes Nebule. My second goal was fullfilled!. A bit later I went to Saturn with my nagaler. Soon Richard left. After I looked at M3 through Chris' telescope and I just had to find it. Thirty minutes later and some lewd language later I found it too. That was the icing on the cake. Soon after that I packed up and headed home.
3/x/12
Today was a bad day... I wouldnt even call it a true observing night it was more of a celestial blunder. First I went to Auriga and Orion and found M37 and M41. I then took my scope across the lawn too find the Bodes nebula. It took me the rest of the night to find it. I eventually figured out I was using the wrong asterism too find it. I had to run inside and grab by laptop before I found the god damn thing. After I found it I looked at Mars and then after that it was 10:30 and I had to go inside.
3/28/12
I brought out my dads camera and took some pictures of the conjunction of the moon and venus. I put my Nag in the scope and took some pictures of the Moon with the same camera. It didn't turn out well because the Nags eye relief isn't ideal. After that I put my 30 mm wide field Zhumell in the scope and got a great picture of the moon. I move my scope out off the deck and into the backyard and looked at the Bodes. They were great looking and well defined. I went to Auriga and checked out M37 and then flew to the beehive in Cancer. I put the scope back on the deck and looked for M3 but I couldn't find it... I looked at the time and realized that it was and I had to go in.
April 5
Today was great. At sundown I drove to Alison's house only stoping to pick up my friend Scott, who is now Alisons BF, and his friend Ryan, who is slightly more crazy than Scott. When I arrived I unloaded the scope and went into Alisons backyard. She had a blue tarp and some hard plastic lawn chairs. In front of the chairs was something that I never thought, even if I were live forever, I would see... her telescope... My first target was the Bode's. With the absence of street lights in the shining into the backyard they looked great through my zhumell 30mm. Next I draged my scope across the lawn and flew from Leo to cancer and found the beehive. Then I went to Arigua and found M37. After that Scotts friend Ryan wanted to see some things so I showed him Orion in low and high power, the Bodes (they never get old), and the beehive. Later Chris showed me the elusive third "nebula" of the Bodes. I dont know if I saw it or not but I think I saw a fuzzy. Then I arked to Arcturus in Botes and found M3 with my 30mm but was unable to find it again when I put Chris's 9mm Vixen in. After that we went in to grab some tea and soon after we called it a night and packed up are scopes and left.
May 10
At about 900 I arrived at North with only my binos (if Alison ever reads this I'm going to abbreviate binoculars because I can and I want to, so ya) and my less than adequate tripod. I set it up and looked to venus. My tripod was extremely wobbly and so I borrowed Chris's massive tripod and continued to look at venus. It was less than impressive but I could see the phase. Then I tured my binoculars to the beehive and after a couple pointers from Mrs Herrold (I dont know if I should say Mrs Herrold or you but because even though you, Mrs Herrold, are my primary audiance I will still say Mrs Herrold) I was able to easily find it. It was quite impressive. Through my telescope it is rarefied and lack luster but through my binos it was compressed and awe inspiring. Later I tried to find M13 but was unable to. :( In addition to observing we (as in the astronomy group minus Richard, his mom is still mad for the last observing night he was at) had Big Blue recording venus (which was ugly as ever), Mars (which was OK in every definition of the word), and Saturn (which looked too good to be coming out of such a crapy orange hued sky).
May 11
Clear days (knock on wood) are becoming more and more frequent. At around 930 we (this time as in the whole astronomy group minus Mrs Herrold) at Liggett. With in 20 to 30 min Alison was no where in sight, hanging out with Ryan (Tachyon says,"they are dating now"). The first thing I checked out was the beehive with my binoculars. They were, as always, beautiful. I then promptly moved on to the Bodes and after fumbling around Ursa Major for a good 30 min and asking Richard how he found them I finally found them (wow that sentence was a mouthful). I then moved on to the Sombreo and taught Richard to find it. Ironically it took me 30 seconds to find it while it to me 30 minutes to finds the Bobes. I then moved on the M13. My problem wasn't finding the DSO in the constellation but finding the constellation itself. After I figured out what Hercules looked like I promptly found it with both my binos and telescope. Later I moved on to the Ring Nebula which was and easy find once I, like Hercules, figured out what the constellation looked like. Soon after Chris got the bright idea to make I light cannon by using the camera flash through the eyepiece. After we shot at some stars and walls we saw it was late and left.
May 13
After picking up Alison from Ryan's house I arrived at Liggett. Because it was still about 930 so I had to wait about 30 min before it got dark. First I went to the Bodes. I found them easier than last observing night but they were still a bit of a challenge. After that I went to Hercules and found the cluster with my nagler and my binos. Then I swaped my nagler out for my 30 mm and went to Coma Berenices. I spent the rest of the night here and Virgo. I started out by finding the Black Eye, which was an easy find once figured out what the constillation looked like. I then star hopped down too M53. Though its not as good M13 or M5 (Tachyon told me about it) it was a nice little globular. I then moved into Virgo and started looking for M87. It is a hard find because it is the middle of nowhere. I eventually found it and after I did it was time to say goodbye and I left for home.
May 16
At about 930 I arrived at Liggett and like before I had to wait 30 min before I could start observing. I first went to the Bodes and easily found it with my 30 mm.
Then I went to M13 with my nagler and it was equally great. I then went to Coma with my 30 mm and checked out the Black Eye. Then I went to M53. I then shot over to Lyra and easily found the ring once I figured out what the constellation looked like in the sky. I then found M5 in Serpins Caput which was just as good as M13 (or at least from my point of view). It was now about 11 so it was time to leave.
May 19
At about 300 Chris's dad picked me up at my house and then we started driving for Mrs Herrold's house. 40 minutes later we arrived at Mrs Herrold house. The second I looked at her car I started questioning weather or not we would be able to fit two 60 lb Dobs in her surprisingly large Toyota Camery. After some creative packing we got the two telescopes in the car. Chris and I were crammed in the back of the car for 3 hours. ( Tachyon says he got me sick :( ) When we got too Gladwin I was amazed. There were three or four massive Dobs twice the size of my economy size dob. After unpacking my telescope and pretending to help set up the tent Chris and I walked around and looked at the Dobs. The biggest one was a 20 inch monster and the smallest one was a 13.5 well, monster. Once it started getting twilighty (I love making my own words ;) ) I started my observing. I first went to Coma Berenices. Even though it was still twilight the Black Eye and M53 were great! I then went to my cocaine, the Bodes Nebulae. It soon after got dark and I went back too the Bodes which practically floored me and then one of the massive Dobs said they had M81 and M82 in their aperture so I ran over their and sothed my addiction. It was even more amazing than I could of dreamt of. I then went into Leo with my dob and looked at M95 and the amazing Leo Triplet. Then one of the Monster Dobs said they had the Whirlpool so I like before ran over to the telescope and was amazed. You could see the spiral arms as clear as day and you could easily see the interacting galaxy. I then borrowed the 17mm Ethos and took a sky tour with it. I loved it! I went to the bodes, Leo triplet, the Ring nebula, and finally the sombrero. I then got my hands on the 9mm and the 21 mm Ethos eyepieces and compared them on the sombrero. They were all great but the 17 was hands down the best. Then after reluctantly giving them back I continued observing. I went to Sagittarius and took a look at the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae. After I finished looking around in Sagittarius I started noticing the dew. It was everywhere! I tried using my binoculars to look at the Milky-way ( which I thought was a cloud at first...), to no avail. So I went back too my telescope and went to go and find the dumbbell nebula. This was no easy task because the dew on my finder made the sky look like there was a city a mile away. I eventually found it and it was awesome. I was now getting late and the iridium flare was about to start. Chris and I walked to a place that had a great view of Ursa Major. The flare was a bit lack luster because it didn't get very bright but it was still cool. After that I went too sleep because I was barely able to stand.
June 6
When I was helping put up the display case with Chris, Ryan, Richard and Allison, Mrs. Herrold came down the hall and ask if someone could help here set up the telescope for the transit of Venus. Seeing that this is a once in a life time opportunity I volunteered to help, much to the dismay of my co-astronomers. Before lugging the SCT out side I grabbed some eclipse glasses and walked outside. I looked up through the mirror-like cellophane, and squinted my eyes at the sun. You could barely make out the transit. It was lack-luster. After pulling the SCT out side I went back too work on the display case while Mrs. Herrold set the scope up. 10 min later she came back and told us that the transit was in the sky. I ran over to the telescope like before. It was amazing! Truly this was a onece in a life time experience! Later we set up the MCT which also gave a nice view of the sun, but could not rival the Coronado. I must looked through the Coronado's eyepiece for 30min straight. I went home knowing that I just witnessed a once in a life time event.
ALL OBSERVING NIGHTS PRIOR TO MARCH 6 WILL BE ON MY IP PAGE UNDER OBSERVING LOGS (OBSERVING IS MISSPELLED ...)
All object unless specified otherwise are viewed with my Zhumell 30mm eyepeice.Tuesday March 6
This is my first written entry so excuse the choppiness of the writing. After packing my scope and Chris’s into my small Neon (a miracle in its self) a headed down to North at about 8. After unpacking and a setting up I headed into the planetarium office where I met up with Mrs. Herrold Richard, and Alison and we talked a bit. Shortly after I went outside and started my observing. My god was it a nice night... Before I even started Chris and I started to collimate my scope and I had trouble finding the “little black dot”. Once I found the little black dot I got back to observing, but I barely got started before the school board members came. Extremely interested I showed one of the members, in a marathon of sorts, the double cluster, M42, M41, Jupiter (though my nag), and Venus. This was the end of my observing night because I soon found out my keys were missing. After an hour of so of digging through everything in sight the janitor, in the second place he look, found them in my trunk, which was searched by 4 other people. After that I tried and failed to locate the Bodes and realizing I had too test in the morning left with my scope in hand.
Saturday March 10
At about 8:30 Richard came over to my house (Allison and Chris postponed) and we started to observe. After looking at M41 and Jupiter Richard and I decided to check out Monteith (spelling is off) to see if we could set up their. After packing the scopes we parked the Neon in the back of the school. We walked out into the middle of the field and it was a bit lack luster. I had the idea to check out Liggett to try and find some “dark” sky. So yet again we got back in the Neon and drove. After we parked the car and walked to the middle of the field I looked up and it blew me away. You could see everything! It was almost a 90 degree from zenith to horizon. It took three long trips and 30 minutes to set up the scope. My observing night didn’t start for 30 more minutes because I was preoccupied by just looking up. My first target was M37. It took me a long time to find it. I got rusty... While trying to find it some random car pulled up and flashed their brights at us, classy. Once they got bored and drove away I went back Auriga. A couple minutes later Al(l)ison arrived. As she ran around the track I finally found M37. I also I checked out M42. Soon after, Chris arrived and I helped him carry his stuff to the center of the field. The cloud then rolled in. They would have ruined my night if it were not for Saturn, which shined in my nagler, and as the orange moon rose higher I put in my moon filter and looked at that too. It was now pushing 12 and I had to bid the cloudy sky goodbye and I packed up my stuff and left.
3/13/12
As clear days are becoming more rare and cloudy ones are becoming pedestrian you have to absorb every photon possible. I went outside about 930 or 10. It was not too hot but not to cold. It was just right. This was the first observing night were I didn't lose all feeling in my hands! I started my journey through the stars with a trip to Jupiter using my nag. It looked better than I have ever seen. Then I soared over to the big dog. First I flew too M41, but I didn't stay long. My goal was to find M 46-47. While scanning the sky for it I had too deal with thousands of texts from my cardboard boat members, oblivious to the fact I was trying to relax with the stars. I eventually found them both. I then turn my attention to the beehive. I never found it thought. Even with a computer and a star chart it evaded me with every turn. While trying to find it I saw a dim dot move across my FOV. I tracked it through many constellations. I found a satlite or a light speed star... that would be cool! Soon after I looked at the time and had to pack up in defeat, but I will be back and with a vengeance.
3/17/12
Today was my best observing night! My friend Scott decided to tag along. He didnt observe much... he was hanging out with Alison the whole time (I didnt know where they were for most of the time). The first thing I checked out was M41 in Canis. Then I went to Auriga and looked at M37. After that I looked at Orion's sword and the double cluster. So far a basic night. Now it was my time to get my vengence on the Beehive cluster. I won!!! I found it, finally. I couple minutes after my triumph Richard arrived. He showed how to find the Bodes Nebule. My second goal was fullfilled!. A bit later I went to Saturn with my nagaler. Soon Richard left. After I looked at M3 through Chris' telescope and I just had to find it. Thirty minutes later and some lewd language later I found it too. That was the icing on the cake. Soon after that I packed up and headed home.
3/x/12
Today was a bad day... I wouldnt even call it a true observing night it was more of a celestial blunder. First I went to Auriga and Orion and found M37 and M41. I then took my scope across the lawn too find the Bodes nebula. It took me the rest of the night to find it. I eventually figured out I was using the wrong asterism too find it. I had to run inside and grab by laptop before I found the god damn thing. After I found it I looked at Mars and then after that it was 10:30 and I had to go inside.
3/28/12
I brought out my dads camera and took some pictures of the conjunction of the moon and venus. I put my Nag in the scope and took some pictures of the Moon with the same camera. It didn't turn out well because the Nags eye relief isn't ideal. After that I put my 30 mm wide field Zhumell in the scope and got a great picture of the moon. I move my scope out off the deck and into the backyard and looked at the Bodes. They were great looking and well defined. I went to Auriga and checked out M37 and then flew to the beehive in Cancer. I put the scope back on the deck and looked for M3 but I couldn't find it... I looked at the time and realized that it was and I had to go in.
April 5
Today was great. At sundown I drove to Alison's house only stoping to pick up my friend Scott, who is now Alisons BF, and his friend Ryan, who is slightly more crazy than Scott. When I arrived I unloaded the scope and went into Alisons backyard. She had a blue tarp and some hard plastic lawn chairs. In front of the chairs was something that I never thought, even if I were live forever, I would see... her telescope... My first target was the Bode's. With the absence of street lights in the shining into the backyard they looked great through my zhumell 30mm. Next I draged my scope across the lawn and flew from Leo to cancer and found the beehive. Then I went to Arigua and found M37. After that Scotts friend Ryan wanted to see some things so I showed him Orion in low and high power, the Bodes (they never get old), and the beehive. Later Chris showed me the elusive third "nebula" of the Bodes. I dont know if I saw it or not but I think I saw a fuzzy. Then I arked to Arcturus in Botes and found M3 with my 30mm but was unable to find it again when I put Chris's 9mm Vixen in. After that we went in to grab some tea and soon after we called it a night and packed up are scopes and left.
May 10
At about 900 I arrived at North with only my binos (if Alison ever reads this I'm going to abbreviate binoculars because I can and I want to, so ya) and my less than adequate tripod. I set it up and looked to venus. My tripod was extremely wobbly and so I borrowed Chris's massive tripod and continued to look at venus. It was less than impressive but I could see the phase. Then I tured my binoculars to the beehive and after a couple pointers from Mrs Herrold (I dont know if I should say Mrs Herrold or you but because even though you, Mrs Herrold, are my primary audiance I will still say Mrs Herrold) I was able to easily find it. It was quite impressive. Through my telescope it is rarefied and lack luster but through my binos it was compressed and awe inspiring. Later I tried to find M13 but was unable to. :( In addition to observing we (as in the astronomy group minus Richard, his mom is still mad for the last observing night he was at) had Big Blue recording venus (which was ugly as ever), Mars (which was OK in every definition of the word), and Saturn (which looked too good to be coming out of such a crapy orange hued sky).
May 11
Clear days (knock on wood) are becoming more and more frequent. At around 930 we (this time as in the whole astronomy group minus Mrs Herrold) at Liggett. With in 20 to 30 min Alison was no where in sight, hanging out with Ryan (Tachyon says,"they are dating now"). The first thing I checked out was the beehive with my binoculars. They were, as always, beautiful. I then promptly moved on to the Bodes and after fumbling around Ursa Major for a good 30 min and asking Richard how he found them I finally found them (wow that sentence was a mouthful). I then moved on to the Sombreo and taught Richard to find it. Ironically it took me 30 seconds to find it while it to me 30 minutes to finds the Bobes. I then moved on the M13. My problem wasn't finding the DSO in the constellation but finding the constellation itself. After I figured out what Hercules looked like I promptly found it with both my binos and telescope. Later I moved on to the Ring Nebula which was and easy find once I, like Hercules, figured out what the constellation looked like. Soon after Chris got the bright idea to make I light cannon by using the camera flash through the eyepiece. After we shot at some stars and walls we saw it was late and left.
May 13
After picking up Alison from Ryan's house I arrived at Liggett. Because it was still about 930 so I had to wait about 30 min before it got dark. First I went to the Bodes. I found them easier than last observing night but they were still a bit of a challenge. After that I went to Hercules and found the cluster with my nagler and my binos. Then I swaped my nagler out for my 30 mm and went to Coma Berenices. I spent the rest of the night here and Virgo. I started out by finding the Black Eye, which was an easy find once figured out what the constillation looked like. I then star hopped down too M53. Though its not as good M13 or M5 (Tachyon told me about it) it was a nice little globular. I then moved into Virgo and started looking for M87. It is a hard find because it is the middle of nowhere. I eventually found it and after I did it was time to say goodbye and I left for home.
May 16
At about 930 I arrived at Liggett and like before I had to wait 30 min before I could start observing. I first went to the Bodes and easily found it with my 30 mm.
Then I went to M13 with my nagler and it was equally great. I then went to Coma with my 30 mm and checked out the Black Eye. Then I went to M53. I then shot over to Lyra and easily found the ring once I figured out what the constellation looked like in the sky. I then found M5 in Serpins Caput which was just as good as M13 (or at least from my point of view). It was now about 11 so it was time to leave.
May 19
At about 300 Chris's dad picked me up at my house and then we started driving for Mrs Herrold's house. 40 minutes later we arrived at Mrs Herrold house. The second I looked at her car I started questioning weather or not we would be able to fit two 60 lb Dobs in her surprisingly large Toyota Camery. After some creative packing we got the two telescopes in the car. Chris and I were crammed in the back of the car for 3 hours. ( Tachyon says he got me sick :( ) When we got too Gladwin I was amazed. There were three or four massive Dobs twice the size of my economy size dob. After unpacking my telescope and pretending to help set up the tent Chris and I walked around and looked at the Dobs. The biggest one was a 20 inch monster and the smallest one was a 13.5 well, monster. Once it started getting twilighty (I love making my own words ;) ) I started my observing. I first went to Coma Berenices. Even though it was still twilight the Black Eye and M53 were great! I then went to my cocaine, the Bodes Nebulae. It soon after got dark and I went back too the Bodes which practically floored me and then one of the massive Dobs said they had M81 and M82 in their aperture so I ran over their and sothed my addiction. It was even more amazing than I could of dreamt of. I then went into Leo with my dob and looked at M95 and the amazing Leo Triplet. Then one of the Monster Dobs said they had the Whirlpool so I like before ran over to the telescope and was amazed. You could see the spiral arms as clear as day and you could easily see the interacting galaxy. I then borrowed the 17mm Ethos and took a sky tour with it. I loved it! I went to the bodes, Leo triplet, the Ring nebula, and finally the sombrero. I then got my hands on the 9mm and the 21 mm Ethos eyepieces and compared them on the sombrero. They were all great but the 17 was hands down the best. Then after reluctantly giving them back I continued observing. I went to Sagittarius and took a look at the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae. After I finished looking around in Sagittarius I started noticing the dew. It was everywhere! I tried using my binoculars to look at the Milky-way ( which I thought was a cloud at first...), to no avail. So I went back too my telescope and went to go and find the dumbbell nebula. This was no easy task because the dew on my finder made the sky look like there was a city a mile away. I eventually found it and it was awesome. I was now getting late and the iridium flare was about to start. Chris and I walked to a place that had a great view of Ursa Major. The flare was a bit lack luster because it didn't get very bright but it was still cool. After that I went too sleep because I was barely able to stand.
June 6
When I was helping put up the display case with Chris, Ryan, Richard and Allison, Mrs. Herrold came down the hall and ask if someone could help here set up the telescope for the transit of Venus. Seeing that this is a once in a life time opportunity I volunteered to help, much to the dismay of my co-astronomers. Before lugging the SCT out side I grabbed some eclipse glasses and walked outside. I looked up through the mirror-like cellophane, and squinted my eyes at the sun. You could barely make out the transit. It was lack-luster. After pulling the SCT out side I went back too work on the display case while Mrs. Herrold set the scope up. 10 min later she came back and told us that the transit was in the sky. I ran over to the telescope like before. It was amazing! Truly this was a onece in a life time experience! Later we set up the MCT which also gave a nice view of the sun, but could not rival the Coronado. I must looked through the Coronado's eyepiece for 30min straight. I went home knowing that I just witnessed a once in a life time event.